They are increasingly concerned that the clock is ticking for their loved ones and that any leverage the United States has could slip away at the conclusion of the nuclear talks with Iran.

While President Obama has made reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran his top foreign policy priority, there seems to be no sense of urgency on the part of the Administration to use the negotiations to bring our citizens home.

In their opening statements, each family member denied the Iranian allegations and described the dismal conditions in which their loved ones are being held. Sarah Hekmati said her brother has been beaten on the feet with cables and has been tasered repeatedly. Jason Rezaian has lost 40 lbs. and is often kept in solitary confinement, Ali Rezaian said. Nagameh Abedini said Saeed is doing “horribly, physically and psychologically” and suffered from internal bleeding from early beatings.

The Obama Administration should have acted long ago to secure their freedom. By ceding the upper hand in the negotiations, President Obama has put the U.S. in a position where we are allowing the Iranians to dictate the terms of their freedom.

The window to act is closing. If President Obama wants to show Americans that he is negotiating from a position of power, he must demand the immediate release of Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati, and Jason Rezaian and require the Government of Iran help to find Robert Levinson. We cannot allow Americans to suffer in an effort to appease the regime in Tehran.